ghost at the feast

English

Etymology

After Banquo in Shakespeare's Macbeth (1606); Macbeth murders Banquo, whose mutilated body subsequently appears at a feast as a ghost, unseen by all but Macbeth.

Pronunciation

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Noun

ghost at the feast (plural ghosts at the feast)

1. (idiomatic) A presence that mars one's enjoyment by causing guilt or reviving unwelcome memories.

Synonyms

• spectre at the feast